Laredo, Area Teachers Selected for Summer Teacher Institute Here

More than 30 Laredo and area teachers have been selected to participate in “Shaping the American Republic to 1877,” a Summer Teacher Institute sponsored by Humanities Texas and Texas A&M International University (TAMIU).

The Laredo institute at TAMIU is one of six taking place throughout June at leading universities across Texas. Other participating institutions include the University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas Christian University, University of Houston and University of Texas at El Paso.

Each institute brings about 40 outstanding teachers from across Texas to participate in lectures and workshops that examine topics in U.S. history and culture from the colonial era through Reconstruction that are central to the eighth grade social studies curriculum.

Dr. Deborah Blackwell, TAMIU associate professor of history and director of the Honors Program who helped organize the Institute, said it is itself a historical offering.

“This is the first time we’ve been selected to join with Humanities Texas in what we all agree is a remarkable opportunity for the University to collaborate with our local history teachers to study this vibrant period and bring it to life again for their students,” Dr. Blackwell said.

Institute participants and their respective campuses include: Blanca Aguilar, United South Middle School; Jessica Alvarado, Cigarroa Middle School; Guadalupe Ayala, Los Obispos Middle School; Adriana Cardenas, Lyndon B. Johnson High School; Ronnie Castro, Lyndon B. Johnson High School; Lonnie Gignac, Lyndon B. Johnson High School; Vita Gilpin, United Day School; Mary Gonzalez, Martin High School; Elsa Gonzalez, United South High School; Leticia Henry, Cigarroa High School; Guillermo Jimenez, Christen Middle School; Judith Kilburn, Los Obispos Middle School; Gina Lara, Lamar Middle School; Cynthia Leyendecker, Trautmann Middle School and Rebeka Longoria, Zapata High School.

Also, Lizette Lozano, L.J. Christen Middle School; Roberto Luna, Cigarroa Middle School; Monica Martinez, Los Obispos Middle School; Maria Olivares, Cigarroa Middle School; Julian Palacios, Jr., S.T.E.P. Academy; Karl Pena, St. Augustine High School; Jaime Peryam, L.J. Christen Middle School; Carlos Ramirez, United Middle School; Pedro Saenz, Jr., L.J. Christen Middle School; Selina Sanchez, Nixon High School; Francisco Segura, Memorial Middle School; Edward Teniente, Trautmann Middle School; Alicia Trevino, Memorial Middle School; Eduardo Valdez II, St. Augustine Middle School; Sylvia Velasco, Cigarroa High School; Sara Villanueva, Early College High School and Maria Yruegas, Lamar Middle School.

The institutes emphasize close interaction with scholars. The Laredo institute offers lectures and workshops led by TAMIU faculty, in addition to distinguished professors from schools across the nation, including Lorri Glover of Saint Louis University and Daniel Feller of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, editor of The Papers of Andrew Jackson.

TAMIU faculty offering lectures or workshops are Dr. Jerry Thompson, “The Civil War,” Dr. Stanley Green, “The Spanish Colonial Period,” and Dr. Blackwell, “Antebellum Reform and Abolition.”

Tara Carlise of the University of North Texas’s “Portal to Texas History” will also participate in the institute, providing teachers with resources that support the teaching of U.S. history and government.

“Humanities Texas is delighted to include outstanding teachers from Laredo in these educational initiatives,” said executive director Michael L. Gillette, “Bringing teachers together to learn from leading scholars and from each other is an effective way to ensure that Texas students continue to receive the best possible educational opportunities.”
“Shaping the American Republic to 1877” is made possible with support from the State of Texas, as well as from the National Endowment for the Humanities We the People initiative.

The state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Texas sponsors programs promoting heritage, culture and education throughout the state.

For more information about Humanities Texas and “Shaping the American Republic to 1877,” visit www.humanitiestexas.org.

For information about TAMIU, visit www.tamiu.edu.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu